Refrigerator pullout shelf



Jan. 13, 1959 H. D. sQulRE 2,868,607

REFRIGERATOR PULLoUT SHELF Filed July 30. 1956 INVEN TOR. *76 4 F16. J#6255er D. JQu/ee i United States Patent C) F REFRIGERATOR PULLoUT SHELFHerbert D.Squire, Galesburg, Ill., assignor to Midwest ManufacturingCorporation, Galesburg, Ill., a corporation of -Illinois ApplicationJuly 30, 1956, Serial No. 601,051 14 claims. (ci. 31a-332) Thisinvention relates generally to a pull-out shelf construction, and isdirected particularly to a pull-out shelf construction for use on arefrigerator or the like.

In the ordinary, everyday `use of refrigerators it is highly desirablethat one or more of the food-supporting shelves be of the pull-out type,so that the food at the back of the shelf may be more convenientlyreached.

The present invention is directed to a novel pull-out shelf arrangementwhich is particularly advantageous for use on domestic refrigerators.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a`novel and improved pull-out shelf arrangement particularly adapted foruse on a refrigerator.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a novel pull-out shelfarrangement having novel provision for readily" mounting the shelf onits support structure.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, which.is described in detail hereinafter as applied `to a domesticrefrigerator and is illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top view of the present pull-out shelf arrangement,looking down on the shelf from inside the refrigerator;

Figure 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 in 4 along the line 4-4in Fig. l; and A Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 in Fig.1.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the refrigerator is provided with the usualinner liner, consisting of a back wall and spaced side walls 11, 12 andopen at the front 13 of the refrigerator, which normally is closed by adoor (not shown). A pair of sockets 14 and 15 extend through the backwall 10 adjacent the side walls 11 and 12, respectively. At their innerends these sockets terminate in transverse annular flanges 16 and 17,respectively, which engage the inner face 10a of the back wall 10. Thesockets are rigidly `supported by the back wall 10 and define aXia'lrecesses which are open at the anges 16 and 17, respectively, to receivetightly the back ends of rigid elongated guide rails 18 and 19,respectively, which are circular in cross-section. These guide railsextend in spaced, parallel relation to the respective adjacent sidewalls 11 and 12 horizontally toward the front of the refrigerator. Attheir front ends the guide rails 18, 19 are` rigidly supported bybrackets 20 and 21, respectively, which are mounted on the inner facesof the side walls 11 and 12, respectively, near the front of therefrigerator.

The refrigerator` shelf itself is of generally conventionalconstruction, including front, back and side rails 22, 23, 24 and 25,`a` plurality of spaced rod-like bars 26 extending `between the front andback rails, and a rodlike middle .cross bar27 extending from oneside tothe A2,868,607 Patented Jan. 13, 1959 ice 51 (Fig. l) which at eitherend has a downwardly and forwardly offset horizontal extension arm 51aspaced directly below the shelf back rail 23 (Figs. 2 and 43)'.`

At the left side of the shelf this extension arm 51a carries a slide 31,which is formed with a downwardly facing, transverse, horizontal channel70 which receives the `extension arm 51a. In this manner, slide 31 isphysically supported by the extension arm 51a and is slidable therealonglaterally of the shelf, toward and away from guide rail 18. i

At its connection to Vthe side `rail 24 the back rail 23` of the shelfis snugly received in an upwardly facing channel 3i) formed in slide 31(Figs. 2 and` 3). Slide 31 is formed with a longitudinal channel 32,opening through the outer side of the slide, which slidably receives theguide rail 18, so that the slide 31 is slidablle along this guide railfrom front to back, or vice versa, in the refrigerator. The channel 32in the slide 31 is elongated transversely, so as to permit adjustment ormovement of the slide toward and away from the guide rail 18.

' The slide 31 has an integral rearwardly projecting protrusion 33 forengagement with the flange 16 on Socket 14 to limit the movement ofslide 31 toward. the back of the refrigerator.

In accordance with `thepresent invention, the slide 31 has a manuallyreleasable spring connection with the shelf to allow it to move in andout on the shelf and facilitate assembly thereof withthe guide rail andto facilitate mounting the attached slide and` shelf` 4on the guiderail. To this end there is provided a flexible resilient spring,indicated generally at 34 in Fig. 2, which has a curved bent over end 35received in a pocket 36 in, slide 31 which is open at the top of theslide1 This end portion 35 of the spring is joined to a'substantiallyflat segment 37 which extends up at an angle across an upwardly facingtransverse channel 38 in the 'slide 31 extending away from the upper endof pocket 36 therein to the inner side edge 39 of the slide. Segment 37projects up between two adjacent bars 26 on the shelf.4 At its outer endthe spring segment 37 terminates in a generally inverted U.-shapedsegment 40 which bears tightly against the outer side edge of one ofthese bars, as best seen in Fig. 2. The opposite lower end of theinverted U-shaped spring segment 40 is bent `out to eX- tendhorizontally at 41 and then downwardly atan angle in a looped free endsegment42. t j

Slide 31 also isy formed with a finger-.engaging protrusion 43 whichprojects `forward at the inner :side edge 39 of the slide and presents atapered outer side face 43a. At the` right side of the shelf, thedownwardly offset right end extension arm 51a of rail 51 supportsafslide` l ust behind the support brackets 20 and 21 the respec-w tiveguide rails 18 and 19 carry rearwardlyextending sleeves 60 and 61,respectively, which are positioned `to -be engaged by the front endsofthe `respective slides 31"` and 50 to limit the forward movement `ofthe slides and the attached shelf.

t la the .assembly .of the Shelf @ma @transgene the.

slides 31 and 50 initially are positioned inwardly along the respectiveextension arms 51a at the back of the shelf. Slide 31 may be sopositioned by placing the forenger of the left hand against the taperedinner face 43a of protrusion 43 on this slide and the thumb against thefree end 42 of spring 34, and causing the thumb to depress the free end42 of the spring, pulling the spring segment 40 down past the shelf bar26 against which it abuts normally. This releases the spring connectionbetween the shelf and slide 31, so that the slide may be moved to theright in Figs. l and 2, along the shelf back rail 23 and the extensionarm 51a. The same adjustment can be made of the other slide 50 at theright side of the shelf.

With the slides so positioned, the shelf is pushed back into therefrigerator, with the shelf side rail 24 resting on the support surface28 on bracket 20 and the other shelf side rail similarly supported bybracket 21. Slide 31 is then pushed outward (to the left in Figs. l and2) until the guide rail 18 is disposed within the outwardly facingchannel 32 on this slide. The free end 42 of spring 34 is thenmanipulated to snap the upper end 40 of this spring in place, bearingagainst the outer side of one of the bars 26 on the shelf. Slide 50 andits spring are similarly manipulated to allow the slide to move in andout on guide rail 19 and to hold it in proper position relative to theshelf.

It will be noted that slide 31 is assisted in its insertion between thearms 51a and 51 by reason of the fact that the end 51h of the arm 51a isbent downward as best shown in Fig. 2.

In the use of the foregoing pull-out shelf construction, the shelf maybe pulled out to its extended position simply by grasping the front rail22 of the shelf and pulling it forward. The slides 31 and 50 slide alongtheir respective guide rails 18 and 19 until they abut against the stopsleeves 60 and 61. At this time, the shelf is supported on both guidesand is connected thereto as shown in Fig. 2, so that the Shelf andslides move forward as a unlt.

The shelf may be retracted simply by pushing it back into therefrigerator, with the guides 31 and S0 and the shelf moving as a unitat this time, also.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the illustrated embodimentof the present pull-out shelf arrangement is of rugged and simplifiedconstruction which is adaptedfor low-cost manufacture and assembly, andwhich at the same time is capable of the effective and advantageous modeof operation just described.

It is to be understood that, while there has been described in detailherein and illustrated in the accompanying drawing a specific preferredembodiment of this invention, various modifications, omissions andrefinements which depart from the structural details of the disclosedembodiment may be adopted without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

I claim:

l. In a pull-out shelf construction, the combination of a slide, a shelfsupported on the slide to move as a unit therewith, said slide beingmounted to be adjustably positioned laterally of the shelf, and springmeans carried by the slide and engaging the shelf to retain the slide ata predetermined lateral position with respect to the shelf, said springmeans being manually operable to disengage from the shelf for theadjustment of the slide laterally of the shelf.

2. In combination on a refrigerator, a pair of guide rails rigidlysupported within the refrigerator at opposite sides thereof andextending from front to back, a pair of slides supported individually bysaid guide rails for sliding movement therealong, each of said slidesybeing formed with a channel which has an open end at its outer sidelarger than the corresponding guide rail and which receives thecorresponding guide rail, a shelf, and means releasably connecting saidshelf to said slides to move as a unit therewith, each of said slidesbeing adjustable laterally of the shelf toward and away from the guiderail on which it is mounted.

3. In combination on a refrigerator, a pair of guide rails rigidlysupported at the back of the refrigerator and extending horizontally atopposite sides of the refrigerator from back to front, a pair of supportbrackets mounted on the sides of the refrigerator adjacent the front ofthe refrigerator and supporting the front ends of said guide rails, eachof said brackets presenting an upwardly facing support surface above thecorresponding le rail, a pair of slides mounted respectively on saidguide rails for sliding movement therealong, each slide having a channeltherein which receives the corresponding guide rail, each channel havingan open end at the outer side of the slide which is larger than therespective guide rail for initially receiving said guide rail when theslide is mounted thereon, a shelf, and means releasably connecting theshelf to said slides to move as a unit therewith, said shelf overlyingsaid support surfaces on the brackets for sliding movement thereacross,at least one of said slides Abeing adjustable laterally on the shelftoward and away from the guide rail on which it is mounted.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein each of said guide rails carriesa sleeve extending back from the respective support bracket andpositioned to be engaged by the slide on that guide rail to limit theforward movement of that slide.

5. The combination of claim 3, wherein each of said support brackets hasan inwardly extending protrusion which overlies the shelf to limitupward displacement of the shelf thereat.

6. The combination of claim 3, wherein each of said slides has a channelwhich is open at the outer side of the slide and which receives thecorresponding guide rail thereat.

7. In combination on a refrigerator, a pair of guide rails rigidlysupported at the back of the refrigerator and extending horizontally atopposite sides of the refrigerator from back to front, a pair of supportbrackets mounted respectively on the sides of the refrigerator adjacentthe front of the refrigerator and rigidly supporting the front ends ofsaid guide rails, each of said brackets presenting an upwardly facingsupport surface above the guide rail supported thereby, a pair of slidesmounted respectively on said guide rails for sliding movementtherealong, each slide having a channel therein which receives therespective guide rail, each channel having an open end at the outer sideof the slide which is larger than the respective guide rail for themounting of the slide on the guide' rail, a shelf having opposite siderails and a back rail, each of said slides having an upwardly facingchannel which receives the back rail of the shelf, each of said siderails of the shelf resting on said support surface on the correspondingsupport bracket, and each of said slides being mounted for adjustmentlaterally of the shelf ytoward and away from the respective guide rails.

8. In combination on a refrigerator, a pair of guide rails rigidlysupported at the back of the refrigerator and extending horizontally atopposite sides of the refrigerator from back to front, a pair of supportbrackets mounted respectively on the sides of the refrigerator adjacentthe front of the refrigerator and rigidly supporting the front ends ofsaid guide rails, each of said brackets presenting an upwardly facingsupport surface above the guide rail supported thereby, a pair of slidesmounted respectively on said guide rails for sliding movementtherealong, a shelf having opposite side rails, a back rail and aplurality of spaced rods extending forward from said back rail betweenthe side rails, said shelf carrying a pair of horizontal arms disposedbelow said back rail at either side of the shelf which support theslides individually and which extend toward said guide rails, each ofsaid slides having a rst upwardly facing channel which receives the backrail of the shelf, each of the side rails of the shelf resting on saidsupport surface on the bracket at that side of the refrigerator, each ofsaid slides having a forwardly projecting protrusion disposed below saidfirst channel thereon, each slide being formed with an upwardly facingpocket and a second upwardly facing channel extending away from saidpocket toward the inner side of the slide, and a pair of springs mounted`respectively on the slides, each said spring having one end received insaid pocket and having a segment extending across said second channel inthe slide upwardly away from said one end of the spring, said segment ofthe spring being connected to an inverted loop portion disposed betweenan adjacent pair of said forwardly projecting rods on the shelf, saidloop portion of the spring away from said one segment thereof bearingagainst the outer side edge of one of the rods in said pair, and saidloop portion of the spring away from 'said one segment of the springbeing connected to a downwardly projecting free end of the springpositioned at the inner side of the slide.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein each of the slides has la channelwhich is open at the outer side of the slide and which receives thecorresponding guide rail thereat, and each of said slides is adjustablealong the corresponding horizontal arm carried by the shelf.

l0. The combination of claim 8, wherein each of said brackets has aninwardly projecting protrusion which overlies the side rail of the shelfsupported by that bracket to limit the upwardly displacement of theshelf thereat.

ll. The combination of claim 8, wherein each guide rail carries a sleeveprojecting rearward from the corresponding support bracket andpositioned to be engaged by the slide on that guide rail to limit theforward movement of the slide.

12. The combination of claim 8, wherein each of the slides has a channelwhich is open at the outer side of the slide and which receives thecorresponding guide rail thereat, and each of said brackets has aninwardly projecting protrusion which overlies the side rail of the vshelf supported by that bracket to limit the upward displacement of theshelf thereat. j

13. A refrigerator shelf construction comprising a pair of railsdisposed along the sides of the refrigerator in spaced relation thereto,bracket means for holding the front ends of said rails and formed abovethe rails to provide inwardly facing channels, the bottoms of which arein closely spaced relation to the sides of the refrigerator, a shelfhaving a pair of side and rear bars deiining its lateral and back edges,said side bars being disposed in the channels of said bracket meansoutwardly of the rails, and means removably securing the rear of saidshelf to said side rails including a block having an outwardly openingchannel which receives the side rail and upwardly and downwardly openingchannels which receives said back bars of said shelf, each outwardlyopening channel having an open end at the outer side of the block whichis larger than the respective rail for initially receiving said railwhen the block is ymounted thereon.

14. A device as described in claim 13, wherein said block is 'movablelaterally on said back -bars of the shelf and means is provided forreleasably locking said block `in a predetermined lateral positionrelative to said shelf.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,385,811 Bodenstein July 26, 1921 1,787,022 Seeley Dec. 30, 19301,861,123 Kuckel May 31, 1932 1,953,688 Otte Apr. 3, 1934 2,033,861 OtteMar. 10, 1936 2,318,363 Boddy May` 4, 1943

